Last question today, I promise!

[Toshtishtash 1]

Sorry, me again

I have just been reading the US department of State website and it says that I will need to send a copy of a police report for everywhere that I have lived since I was 16. Is this correct?

I don't have a police record and I thought that the only reason you would need to send one is if you have a criminal record of any sort?

Could anyone clarify this for me?

Many thanks again

[featherB 1]

If you don't get a police report, how will you show that you don't have a criminal record?

Yes, you do need one for everywhere you've lived for more than 6 months (I think) since the age of 16. For the UK you'll just need a police report from the police national computer (follow the links on the Embassy website) which covers the whole country - not sure about any other countries though, so it depends if you've lived anywhere abroad for more than 6 months.

[Toshtishtash 1]

Thanks very much

I will look at the embassy website now

[featherB 1]

Here you go - this is the page with info on police certificates... there's also a link on the right hand side of the page about how to get the certificate in the UK.

Thanks very much

I will look at the embassy website now

** edited to add that it says "If you or accompanying member(s) of your family applying for a visa have resided in another country or countries, certificates covering residences of twelve months or more must be obtained (the period is six months if country of birth or current nationality)."

Edited January 17, 2007 by featherB

[Toshtishtash 1]

Excellent, thank you again

I will pop down the police station tomorrow.

One more thing... Do I need to send this off with the initial I-129F?

[tonyeck 0]

I was under the impression that a police record was only needed for the interview? Well, at least if you have no convictions to show during the I-129f

[featherB 1]

No (sorry, I've not seen any of your other posts, only this one, so wasn't aware you hadn't filed yet!)... you don't send it with the I-129F and in fact, even though it's good to be prepared in advance, you don't want to get it too early or it might not be considered up-to-date enough by the time you actually need it - which will be at the visa interview. I've just found the bit when it says how long it's valid for (in the FAQs on the Embassy site), and it says:

"With the exception of the U.K. police certificate which is considered valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, a police certificate is valid indefinitely, provided you do not return to the country and reside for six months or more, if it's your country of birth or current residence. The period is twelve months for any other country."

... so if you're filing soon, it shouldn't be a problem, but there's definitely no rush to get hold of it anytime soon!

Excellent, thank you again

I will pop down the police station tomorrow.

One more thing... Do I need to send this off with the initial I-129F?

[patiently_waiting 0]

If you don't give a copy of your criminal record, how would they know that you don't have one? When you have no criminal record and the criminal report is done, it simply reads, there is no history.